After reading Noodle Link's blog (http://noodleblog-noodle.blogspot.com/) and seeing his, and also Shiekah_Link's and SteveTheDuck's anticipation features, I was inspired to do one of my own. So, a great thanks to Noodle Link and co, and let's set our sights on the games I am waiting for in 2010.
10. Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver (DS)
Yes, it's the new Pokemon games; but it's the DS remakes of the best Pokemon games in the series. Released at the end of next month and given a healthy review score by ONM, this is going to be a title that sucks the hours from under my feet.
I remember back in 2002, when I got Silver for my birthday, and I was astounded by the improvements from Yellow (I never owned Red or Blue); and I was never off it until Christmas, where I also recived Gold. I then played the two games in tandem, completing both up to the point of getting past the Elite Four for the second time. And I then went on just to play Gold.
Now eight years later, I can't wait to return to Johto, now using the Platinum graphical engine, and it's certainly a game I'll be playing until the fifth generation of Pokemon games is released.
9. Final Fantasy XIII (360/PS3)
An odd choice, you would say, for a top ten anticipated games list, but for me, this will be my first proper Final Fantasy game, and I hope that this will serve as a main introduction to the series. I have played the DS spin off of XII, Revenant Wings, but that was an RTS.
As my first true Final Fantasy game, I'm expecting it to be a little difficult to get into it, but as I'm quite getting into RPGs now, and being an avid reader, it shouldn't be too much trouble. However, I'm just hoping that when I play it I feel that the gameplay does hold up in between the lengthy cinematics that have been reported by PSM.
Overall though, I'm expecting it to be a good experience, and I'll be very surprised if I don't go off and buy the better Ds reamkes of the earlier titels after playing this.
8. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
Only number eight for the sequel to one of the best games on the Wii? Yeah. I did love the original Galaxy, but I seem to have fallen out of love (metaphorically of course) with my Wii at the moment. This means that for me, Nintendo's main series has taken a back seat to my 360.All that aside, I am expecting Galaxy 2 to be a great improvement over the original. The inclusion of Yoshi and all new galaxies should provide a fresh twist and hopefully not make the game feel like Galaxy all over again. I'd love to see that orchestral music put to good use, and hear more classic Mario tunes in this one. For example, have a galaxy with a certain theme, but have the music very similar to a classic Mario tune.
Surely great things will come of this, but I'm starting to get slightly worried now about where Nintendo will take Mario's 3D adventures from here.
7. No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle (Wii)
No More Heroes was an absolute corker of a game, even though it did have a very lonely feel to it. With all the improvements that have been mentioned for its sequel, No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle should be a great game. Gone, supposedly are the empty streets, with a lot more generic NPCs walking around Santa Destroy. The new weapons look ace, and more imiginative than those in NMH. Dual lightsa... beam katanas that can be weilded? Yes please. The new bosses that have been revealed so far also look amazing, and much more challenging than at lest some of the earlier ones in the first game. The fact that you have to get to the top from around a rank of 50 something was a great idea, as the player will now have to face multiple bosses in boss battles, which I can see being pretty intense.So I can see this being one of the Wii's last epic mature games, and I just hope it isn't drowned in the sea of casual games like other recent mature efforts.
6. Sin and Punishment 2 (Wii)
Hands up if you have the original on VC and found it great but hard. That you as well? Ok then, we are on the same ground. The original was mainly my purpose for actually going and buying a Classic Controller Pro to use in the stead of my old GameCube controller, and due to my 360 I haven't been able to play it yet, but I will do. But from my limited playthorugh of the original N64 title on the VC, I can say I just want Sin and Punishment 2 to be bigger and bolder.
To be fair, this one could be hit and miss. It's definately the right time for a new version of the game to be released, with as good as graphics can get on the Wii and superb controls; but with all the news that on-rail shooters are fairing poorly on the Wii, this one could be doomed to sell very little. Of course, I will get it, but seeing as though it's more going to be a birthday or Christams present, I just want the game to be available by December.
Fingers crossed for this one then, as this is looking to be one of the best on-rail shooters that the Wii has to offer.
5. Okamiden (DS)
After the release of the Wii version of Okami, we get heralded with the coming of Okamiden, a sequel to Okami. Okamiden will revolve around the son of one of the main characters in the first game, and will have you controlling Chibiterasu, which if I remember right is literally "little Amaterasu". The game will be controlled in a similar way as the DS Zelda games, and will bring the vibrant Okami version of Japan to the DS' small screens (or the DSi XL's bigger screens if you will).After loving the first game, this is just one I can't wait for. Call me a weaboo but I do have an interest in Japanese culture and all, which is what first attracted me to Okami, and I was rewarded with a great game. Some people did go against it, but I think the original was a Zelda-esque gem, and hopefully the sequel will be the same.
You can read my review of Okami right here on The Emperor Ing Blog. http://emperoringblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/rev-games-okami-wii.html
4. Red Steel 2 (Wii)
I'll probably get shot for saying this, but I liked the original Red Steel. Yes, it wasn't groundbreaking or really that intuitave, but it was a start for the FPS genre on Wii.
Red Steel 2 is lookigng to go beyond all other FPSes when it is released though. It aims to do right what the original was heavily criticised for - the swordplay. In the original, for those who avoided it, had boss battles where you got out your great big katana and flicked the Wii remote around to slice and dice. To be fair, it worked with the limitations of the Wii remote at that point. Sure, the controls were imprecise, but I never felt there was a moment where you had to be precise. Red Steel 2 looks to set this on its head and create a flowing swordplay mechanic with a myriad of moves and tricks available.The key to this will be the integration of Wii Motion Plus, giving players the accurate control that they need for the sword. The switching between the gun and the sword is also an improvement, as I would have loved to just go roaming about the levels of the original Red Steel with my huge katana. Now my dreams have been realised. However blindingly stating the obvious, there'll be an appropriate time for using each weapon.
From ONM's preview I can tell the story is shaping up to be a cracking one, and although they say it gets off to a slow start, I think once the game really heats up, it'll be a fantastic experience.
3. The Legend of Zelda (Unknown Subtitle) (Wii)
A.k.a Zelda Wii, the new console Legend of Zelda game, is set to appear by the end of the year. Again taking the realistic style, this is designed to be a comeback after the Ocarina-again feel of Twilight Princess.
Of course, just being a Zelda title is enough to get people excited; hell, even I am. However, I'm throwing in a bit of caution just to be on the safe side. Hopefully, the Wii Motion Plus integration can blow all that caution out of the window, and let me just go round with Link hacking things to pieces and just generally saving the world.
Since E3 2009, there have been tantalising hints issued from Nintendo; the concept art at E3, and just recently the announcement that the internet specualtion was correct about the image.
Hopefully, we will see some solid footage at E3 2010, and then we'll get to grips with the true Wii Zelda by Christmas.
2. Napoleon: Total War (PC)
I'll confess and say I'm a huge Total War fan. I have been there since the beginning with Shogun, and after missing out on Empire, I'm looking to get back on the warpath with The Creative Assembly's latest effort.
Set in the Napoleonic Wars, the game will see you controlling the armies of Napoleon, or the armies of his enemies in whole new campaigns. For this game, The Creative Assembly have said that they wanted to focus more on the history of the period, rather than keeping to Empire's rough interpretation. There will ceratinly be other improvements over features in Empire, but sadly I can't really identify these as I haven't played Empire.
But, in the end, that's one of the main reasons I want Napoleon. Just because I haven't played Empire, and Napoleon is supposed to be a better experience than Empire.
And I'll soon know for sure, for Napoleon: Total War is released at the end of the month as a standard edition and as a collector's Imperial Edition. If you can afford the extra ten quid, the Imperial Edition offers extra units for you to play around with, along with a smexy cover to boot. Different retailers are also offering different pre-order bonus units, so snap them up while you still can.
Once thing is for sure though. I will be playing this for a long timne after its release.
1. Metroid Other M (Wii)
If it's one series I enjoy more than any other, its Metroid. Heck, you'll probably guess that from my username on various sites, and of course, the name of this blog. There's just something about the over arcing storyline of the series that I love. Samus, the Space Pirates, the aliens, and the Galactic Federation.... Ooh, I love it all.
Other M is set between Super Metroid and Fusion and is set to reveal more of Samus' backstory. We already know about the Space Pirate raid on her home and how she was brought up by the Chozo; so I eagerly await what revelations will come about from this new title.
Partial voice acting has been in the game since Metroid Prime 2: Echoes. Corruption exapnaded and had voice acting for everyone but Samus. This time we have full voice acting. That's right. Samus speaks at last.
From the E3 2009 trailer, Other M looks to be a fusion of the recent Prime Trilogy with the classic 2D titles. There's 2D style platforming and shooting action, but we also see the first person view from prime and some (hopefully) awesome cutscenes.
So, if there's one game I must play this year, it's Metroid Other M. Coming off the back of Metroid Prime Trilogy, this seems to be the next true step of the Metroid series. Let's just hope Team Ninja can do it proud. If you can't wait, check out the teaser site at www.metroid.jp.
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So, there you have it. That's my top ten anticipated games for 2010. For a reason, I did not include games that have already been released, or the likes of Bayonetta and Tatsunoko VS Capcom would be in there. You'll notice that most are Wii titles, and you'll notice that I said that I have fallen out of love with my Wii. Well, hopefully later in the year these games can entice me to get off my 360 and get down to some solid Nintendo gaming.
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